This text is for anyone who believes in or is interested in numerology. If that’s not your case, skip it.
The World Cups are always held in even years, just like the Olympic Games. Why the disregard for odd years? Question answered like this: it’s not disregard, it’s coincidence.
Conceived by Baron de Coubertin, a Frenchman, the Modern Olympic Games began in 1896, in Greece, and happened to begin in an even year. FIFA, then led by Frenchman Jules Rimet, decided to hold the first World Cup in 1930, in Uruguay. And so it was, each event every four years.
This year’s World Cup, co-organized by three countries (USA, Mexico and Canada) and which starts this Thursday (11) at the Azteca stadium, in Mexico City, ends in year 6.
6 is a common number, the same as the other nine known as Indo-Arabic numerals, but it is peculiar in some aspects, and among them is not the fact that it is my birthday nor the birthday of Wesley, the right back who was cut from the World Cup due to injury.
Making Brazil six-times champions, six-times champions, is what our players want, and from Saturday (13th), in the debut against Morocco, they will have the chance to achieve this goal. Because six is the number of stars that Brazilians want to see on their national team’s shirt.
We, Brazil, have been stuck in five consecutive World Cups since 2002, and this will be the sixth opportunity that the national team will have to break free, having failed in five consecutive World Cups, the first of which ended in 6 (2006).
Of the 22 editions of World Cups held, only three fell in a year ending in 6. The rarity is explained because, as the World Cup began in 1930 and began to be held every four years, the year ending in 6 was last in line.
And when his first time arrived, he had to wait, because in 1946, with the Second World War underway, there was no World Cup.
The first time of the 6 happened only in 1966, when Brazil, champion in 1958 and 1962, succumbed in an embarrassing way, falling in the group stage, with Pelé being badly beaten by the Portuguese in the elimination match. England, host, champion.
In the second time of the 6, in 1986, in Mexico, the Brazilian team was doing well, with four victories in the initial four matches. France came in the quarterfinals. Penalties came. New deletion. Argentina, by Maradona, champion.
In the third and most recent time of the 6, in 2006, in Germany, the magical quartet formed by Ronaldo Fenômeno, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Adriano Imperador and Kaká met the French again, again in the quarter-finals, and, 0-1 on the scoreboard, again for Brazil an elimination. Italy, on penalties, champion.
Victorious in World Cups with other numbers at the end – they won twice in 2 (1962 and 2002) and once in 0 (1970), in 4 (1994) and in 8 (1958) –, the Brazilian team did not come close to the decision in the years ending in 6.
This in the World Cup. The final 6 smiled for Brazil at the 2016 Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, with the triumph on penalties against Germany, at Maracanã.
From the current team, Neymar (captain), Marquinhos, Douglas Santos and Weverton were on that gold medal team. All holders. In the 2026 team, only Marquinhos (captain) is.
6 has a story to tell. There was even a player wearing it on his shirt who scored the title-winning goal in the World Cup final: the Spanish Iniesta, in 2010.
Will this 2026 be Brazil’s 26th (Rayan) who, coming off the bench, breaks this Brazilian fast?
I never cared about numerology. If the above occurs, I bow to her.
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